Tethered to the Starlight: A Court of War and Starlight

Chapter 1: Rhys

Breathe, Feyre.

Breathe.

I could feel her tugging on the bond hesitantly.

Relax, Feyre. It was a nightmare.

"Rhys, it- it was Amarantha and she was torturing you. She slashed your skin until you wound up in her bed."

Feyre you can't keep doing this. You're vomiting again and you're losing weight.

"What am I supposed to do, Rhys? Every time I see his face, I see her Hybern. I see her. Every time he tries to snake his way into my bed, I can only see Amarantha forcing you to please her. None of my dreams ever end well."

I could see those silent tears rolling down her perfect cheeks. Releasing a drawn out sigh through the bond, I sent her a pen and paper.

Write. A pang of hesitation scraped down the bond.

"About what? I mean what if Tamlin-"

Feyre, just write. Tease me. Tell me how much of a prick I am. Tell me about our wedding. Bounce ideas off me for a new painting. I don't care. Just distract yourself.

Not bothering myself with the semantics of snapping, I conjured up a piece of parchment and ballpoint pen. Waving a hand in dismissal, I sent winnowed the two objects to the Spring Court.

Write.

I knew I was going to get back a smartass answer. But that's what I wanted, an answer to let me know she was at least a shadow of the High Lady she was in the Night Court.

Figuring I'd give her a few minutes, I ventured into the kitchen in search of something substantial I could winnow to her. The kitchen had been illuminated by the haunting glow of the moon that squeezed between the crevice of the mountains of Velaris.

"Oh my god!" Shit. I forgot Feyre's sisters were here.

Stringing against the lack of light, I found Nesta's slim frame and brassy hair. Struggling for a reply, I stumbled on a collection of thoughts, "I-I'm so so sorry. I forgot.. your sister, is hungry."

She cocked an eyebrow, "Then why are you naked?"

Looking down, I noticed everything on display for Nesta to see.

"You did not!," Feyre yelled through the bond.

"Oh but I did," I said to no one in particular.

"You have got to stop sleeping naked."

Nesta got up and shook her head in pure disgust, leaving the kitchen to me and the mate in my head.

Making a quick grab for the chocolate cake in the fridge, I ventured back to my mate and I's chambers, with a smile on my lips.

Her note lay brilliantly displayed beside a framed painting she had created while all alone in the wooded cottage. I love you. The words were a nova; a star exploding in the night sky. They glitter valiantly on the dull piece of parchment by comparison.

I can't help the tears that run silently down my cheeks, allowing them to seep into the mating bond.

"I love you." There it is again. But yet, why is it that everything I love, has been taken from me? There is nothing I want more than to hold Feyre's hand, to lull her to sleep. To caress her long gilded hair and her slender frame. To feel her hot, soothing breath on my neck. To feel her artist's hands run along my chest.

"I would like that very much too." A tinge of embarrassment brushes the bond.

First off, I love you too. Second, do you still have my mother's ring?

"Don't worry, it's glamoured on my finger. It's never leaving my hand."

Good. Oh and third, I really need to start keeping my mental shields up when I'm thinking about you and your body.

I can feel her warm laugh rumble throughout her entire being, and I can't help the way my smile stretches to my eyes.

"Oh, so about that chocolate cake..."

Only the best for my mate. And with the snap of my fingers, the chocolate cake winnowed into the Spring Court, a particularly risky move. Tamiln could smell the magic. He could smell the infidelity on Feyre if he tried.

Satisfaction. An overwhelming feeling of satisfaction.

"My god. I have been craving chocolate ca-"

Until I felt red, blinding red panic fill my mental shields. I reached for her. I reached through the bond to find her, but I couldn't find any crevice to slide through in order to reach her thoughts. But this, she was blocking me out. We had to move against the Spring Court now.